Apostolic Life in the 21st Century

Is gambling a sin or just harmless entertainment?  In the United States, you can hardly visit a gas station or grocery store without being offered an opportunity to purchase a lottery ticket or engage in some other form of gambling. Las Vegas, Nevada, is one of the most popular travel destinations in the country, primarily due to legalized gambling. Local and state governments frequently tout lega...

When God gave the Ten Commandments, the fourth command was that His people should “remember the Sabbath” and “keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8). God told the people of Israel that they should work for six days, but rest on the seventh. To this day, observant Jews worship on Saturday, the seventh day of the week. Because of this, some argue that Christians violate the fourth commandment by worshippi...

Both the Old and New Testaments affirm that God blesses those who are generous with their resources. Some of these verses have become the basis for what is commonly called the "prosperity gospel." According to prosperity gospel teachers, it is God's will for believers to be financially prosperous and physically healthy, and this wealth and health can be attained through faith, speak...

Suicide brings crushing grief to thousands of families every year, including Christian families. When a Christian takes their own life, loved ones often wrestle with doubt about the deceased individual's eternal destiny, further deepening the sense of loss and grief. In this episode, Dr. David K. Bernard addresses the topic of suicide from both a theological and a pastoral perspective, examin...

It seems evil has never been more prevalent or as accessible as it is today. Smartphones and other digital technology allow us to easily transact business, but can also destroy our souls by granting almost instant access to immorality. Dr. David K. Bernard provides biblical guidance on how believers can protect themselves from moral impurity in an internet-driven world and follow the guidance of K...

How can a person know if God is calling them to be a preacher? Throughout the epistles, the apostle Paul repeatedly refers to his personal call to preach the gospel. Paul had a dramatic encounter with God on the road to Damascus, as recorded in Acts 9. But is God’s call always as dramatic as what Paul experienced? In this episode, Dr. David K. Bernard explains what it means to be called to ministr...

Pentecostals believe firmly in divine healing. This belief is based on Scriptures such as James 5:14–15 , which says that, if a person is sick, they should ask the elders of the church to anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord, with the expectation that God will work a miracle. In Mark 16:18 , Jesus promised believers that they would lay hands on the sick and see them recover. However, perso...

There has been much discussion in the media recently about Critical Race Theory (CRT). Some U.S. states have even banned the teaching of CRT in K-12 public school classrooms. The debate has been hotly contested and, in some instances, has spilled over into churches and religious denominations. In this episode, Dr. David K. Bernard explains CRT and discusses whether this idea is compatible with the...

This month, many Apostolic students will head off to college. Those who are attending a secular college or university will be exposed to teachings, beliefs, and practices that directly contradict the Scriptures. Is it possible for students to maintain biblical beliefs and an Apostolic lifestyle in this setting? In this episode, Dr. David K. Bernard shares his personal experiences as a student at b...

Are New Testament Christians biblically obligated to support the modern nation of Israel? How do Old Testament commands such as "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6) apply to modern believers? How should Christians respond to the claims of Palestinians and others who are engaged in ongoing conflict with the State of Israel? Dr. David K. Bernard examines what the Bible says abou...

Pentecostals believe and teach that speaking in tongues is the initial sign or evidence that a person has received the gift of the Holy Spirit. But does the Bible support this claim? Furthermore, is the baptism of the Holy Spirit a requirement for salvation? This episode is the continuation of the answer to last week's question. Picking up the story in Acts 10, Dr. David K. Bernard completes...

Pentecostals believe and teach that speaking in tongues is the initial sign or evidence that a person has received the gift of the Holy Spirit. But does the Bible support this claim? Furthermore, is the baptism of the Holy Spirit a requirement for salvation? In this first episode of a two-part series, Dr. Bernard reviews what the Book of Acts has to say about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and he...

Jack Phillips , owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, is a professing Christian who has made it clear he will not create custom cakes that express messages which conflict with his religious beliefs. Because of this, Mr. Phillips has been sued, fined, harassed, and publicly reviled. His legal case made it all the way to the United States Supreme Court, where justices ruled in his fav...

Is giving ten percent of our income to God (also known as "tithing") an Old Testament ordinance or a New Testament obligation? God challenged the people of Israel through the prophet Malachi to pay their tithes, with the promise that, if they did, He would bless them ( Malachi 3:8-12 ). But are New Testament believers obligated to fulfill this Old Testament command? Are those who teach t...

In describing the baptism of Jesus, Matthew wrote, “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'" (Matthew 3:16-17, NKJV).  Some have pointed...

In Revelation 13:16–18 , the apostle John describes a vision of a prophetic event that has come to be known as the “mark of the Beast.” John wrote that, unless a person receives this mark, they will be unable to transact business. Over the centuries, scholars have debated what this mark might be and how it could be implemented. Recently, some have speculated that perhaps the COVID-19 vaccine might...

What happens to us when we die? Since death is a reality for everyone, it is a question all of us should consider.  The Bible has much to say about what happens when we die. In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus told a story of a rich man and a poor beggar in which He indicated that, after death, the rich man was in hell while the beggar, Lazarus, was in a place of peace and rest. In 2 Corinthians 5:8, Paul sta...

How should Apostolic believers respond when a close family member announces that they identify as a homosexual? Should Christians attend a gay marriage ceremony? Dr. David K. Bernard addresses these increasingly commonplace scenarios and discusses how Apostolic Pentecostals can demonstrate God's love to others while standing for biblical truth. If you enjoy this podcast, leave a five-star rat...

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “It is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning." If Christians, including Oneness Pentecostals, share a common set of beliefs, why are so many churches and religious organizations split along racial lines? Dr. David K. Bernard answers this critical question while exploring the interracial root...

In 1 Corinthians 12:30, the apostle Paul asked, "Do all speak with tongues?" Pentecostals teach that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Does this belief contradict Paul's teachings? Dr. David K. Bernard answers this question and explores the difference between the gift of tongues and tongues as the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spiri...

According to the Scriptures, what words must be said at a baptism in order to make it valid? Dr. David K. Bernard reviews the New Testament examples of baptism and what the apostles taught about the subject. If you enjoy this podcast, leave a five-star rating and a review on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast platform. We also appreciate it when you share Apostolic Life in the 21st Century w...

Does God's statement in Genesis 1:26 ("Let us make man in our image, after our likeness) prove there is more than one person in the Godhead? Dr. David K. Bernard answers this commonly asked question while also addressing similar language in Genesis 11:7. Dr. Bernard explains how these verses fit a Oneness Pentecostal perspective. If you enjoy this podcast, leave a five-star rating and a...